Reivers run great reverse play
Huge turnaround at Kildonan East

Tue Nov 6 2007

By Allan Besson, Winnipeg Free Press


AFTER five straight losses in the Winnipeg High School Football League, it looked pretty grim for the Kildonan East Reivers.

Head coach Lawrence Sangster and his staff had to find a way to turn their fortunes around. They found one, and they did it.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Reivers will take to the Canad Inns Stadium field at 5 p.m. Monday to face the Kelvin Clippers in the Free Press Bowl to determine the Vidruk Division champion.

The WHSFL tripleheader has been moved from Friday in order to properly prepare the stadium for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers eastern semifinal game with the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday.

The WHSFL tripleheader will begin at 2:30 p.m. with Murdoch MacKay Clansmen and Sisler Spartans (2) clashing in the Centennial Bowl for the Currie Division title. Following the Free Press Bowl, the ANAVETS Bowl will pit the Potter Division's Oak Park Raiders against Sisler Spartans at 7:30 p.m.

"We as coaches began to work harder, trying to analyze what we were doing wrong," explained Sangster. "Instead of looking at other teams, we looked more at what we were actually doing as a team. Where are we breaking down and losing our assignments? Where can we improve? Our offensive and defensive co-ordinators Daryl Didyk and Jason Hawkins went to work, and here we are."

Tale of two teams... terrible to terrific Here's a quick look at amazing turnaround by Kildonan East Reivers: * Sept. 7: Lost to Kelvin 47-7. * Sept. 12: Lost to Grant Park 20-1. * Sept. 20: Lost to Sturgeon Heights 33-7. * Sept. 28: Lost to Dryden 46-45 * Oct. 4: Lost to St. Paul's (2) 38-0 * Oct. 11: Beat Beaver Brae 14-7 * Oct. 19: Beat Fort Frances 36-0 * Quarter-final: Defeated Grant Park Pirates 14-4 * Semifinal: Defeated St. Paul's Crusaders (2) 15-14 * Championship final: Kildonan East vs. Kelvin Clippers. Playoff schedule Monday at Canad Inns Stadium * Currie Division (Centennial Bowl), 2:30 p.m.; Murdoch MacKay Clansmen vs. Sisler Spartans (2) * Vidruk Division (Free Press Bowl), 5 p.m.; Kildonan East Reivers vs. Kelvin Clippers * Potter Division (ANAVETS Bowl), 7:30 p.m.; Oak Park Raiders vs. Sisler Spartans (1)

The Reivers rebounded to win their next four games, including the quarter-final and semifinal, and Sangster admitted Monday, that he was a little surprised at the turnaround. 

"When we were 0-5 it was pretty difficult to get things going," he said, "but I believe in our players and our coaching staff. So we never gave up."

Sangster knew adjustments had to be made on the field. That was when he discovered Travis Bromley, who had been hiding as a receiver.

"Our quarterback (Jeremy Joseph), had been injured, so we asked some players if they thought they could play quarterback. Travis said he'd give it a try, and we noticed right away that he is a smart player. Although he was making mistakes, he was correcting his mistakes, and there was improvement, so we said, let's go with him for the rest of the season."

In their first game of the season Kelvin whipped Kildonan East 47-7. "We are sure better now," said Sangster, " but make no mistake about it, we are still a little bit worried about them. They are 8-1, they are a quality team, with quality players and excellent athletes.

"We have our work cut out for us."